Our ecumenical pilgrimage to Rome, Bari and Ravenna is going great. The highlight of the trip was Wednesday when we were given VIP seats at the General Audience of Pope Francis. We could not have been seated closer – except to be in his chair! Pictures by the Vatican photographic service can be seen at the following link, starting with photo #329610_19102016 on page 3 through the middle of page 6.

At the beginning, I presented a specially commissioned icon of St Francis to him, each person in our group then greeted him, and we then took a group photo at the end. Cameras were clicking every few seconds.

We also met with Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the new Dicastery for Integrated Human Development, Archbishop Cyril Vasyl, Secretary of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, and Bishop Brian Farrell (brother of the newly selected Cardinal, Kevin from Dallas), secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

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